Protective tube for a golf club shaft

Abstract

A golf club protector for protecting the shaft of a golf club including a golf club housing tube having a protective interior and a protective collar provided at the upper end of the tube. Alternatively, an optional protective sleeve insertable within the tube having a protective collar attached thereto may be removably provided as a unit for a conventional tube. Where the housing tube includes a fixed collar and protective interior, the length of the tube may be predetermined in accordance with the length of a particular club shaft, or the tube may be provided with spaced apart cut markings at its lower end to facilitate shortening of the tube by the consumer.

I claim: 
     
       1. A golf club shaft protector for protecting the shaft of a golf club, said protector comprising: a tube portion having an upper end and a lower end and an inner wall and an outer wall; and   a collar positioned at said upper end of said tube;   said collar having an inner wall;   at least said inner wall of said collar being substantially covered by a resiliently soft material.   
     
     
       2. The golf club shaft protector of claim 1 wherein said inner wall of said tube portion comprises a protective material. 
     
     
       3. A golf club shaft protector for protecting the shaft of a golf club, said protector comprising: a tube portion having an upper end and a lower end and an inner wall and an outer wall; and   a collar positioned at said upper end of said tube;   said collar being substantially covered by a resiliently soft material;   said inner wall of said tube portion comprising a protective material;   said protective material being a liner material adhered to said inner wall.   
     
     
       4. A golf club shaft protector for protecting the shaft of a golf club, said protector comprising: a tube portion having an upper end and a lower end and an inner wall and an outer wall;   a collar positioned at said upper end of said tube;   said collar being substantially covered by a resiliently soft material; and   a sleeve portion interconnected with said collar;   said sleeve portion comprising a soft material;   said sleeve portion being fitted to said inner wall of said tube.   
     
     
       5. The golf club shaft protector of claim 4 wherein said resiliently soft material comprises a polymerized material. 
     
     
       6. The golf club shaft protector of claim 5 wherein said material is a foamed polymerized material. 
     
     
       7. The golf club shaft protector of claim 4 wherein said collar and said sleeve portion are removably fittable to said tube portion. 
     
     
       8. The golf club shaft protector of claim 7 wherein said sleeve portion includes means for anchoring said sleeve to said tube portion. 
     
     
       9. The golf club shaft protector of claim 8 wherein said means for anchoring comprises one or more hooks. 
     
     
       10. The golf club shaft protector of claim 8 wherein in said tube portion is a conventional golf club housing tube. 
     
     
       11. The golf club shaft protector of claim 10 wherein said collar includes an elastic member for being elastically and removably attached to said tube portion. 
     
     
       12. The golf club shaft protector of claim 10 wherein said collar includes an intermediate tube portion, said intermediate tube portion including means for attachment to said conventional housing tube. 
     
     
       13. A golf club shaft protector for protecting the shaft of a golf club, said protector comprising: a tube portion having an upper end and a lower end and an inner wall and an outer wall; and   a collar positioned at said upper end of said tube;   said collar being substantially covered by a resiliently soft material;   said tube portion including spaced apart radially defined cut markings provided at said outer side of said lower end of said tube portion.   
     
     
       14. The golf club shaft protector according to claim 4 wherein said collar defines an inverted U-shaped member in cross-section. 
     
     
       15. The golf club shaft protector according to claim 4 wherein said protector is provided to be substantially the length of a golf club measured from the tip of its handle to its hosel. 
     
     
       16. The golf club shaft protector according to claim 4 wherein said sleeve portion lines the full length of said inner wall of said tube. 
     
     
       17. The golf club shaft protector according to claim 4 wherein said sleeve portion lines less than half of said inner wall of said tube. 
     
     
       18. A golf club shaft protector for protecting the shaft of a golf club, said protector comprising: a golf club housing tube having an upper end and a lower end and an inner wall and an outer wall; and   a collar fitted at said upper end of said tube;   said collar including a protective material fitted to said inner wall of said upper end;   said collar further including a protective material fitted to said outer wall of said upper end;   said collar having an inner wall;   said inner wall of said collar being substantially covered by a resiliently soft material.   
     
     
       19. The golf club shaft protector of claim 18 wherein said inner wall of said tube portion comprises a protective material. 
     
     
       20. A golf club shaft protector for protecting the shaft of a golf club, said protector comprising: a golf club housing tube having an upper end and a lower end and an inner wall and an outer wall; and   a collar fitted at said upper end of said tube;   said collar including a protective material fitted to said inner wall of said upper end;   said collar further including a protective material fitted to said outer wall of said upper end;   said inner wall of said tube portion comprising a protective material;   said protective material being a liner material adhered to said inner wall.   
     
     
       21. A golf club shaft protector for protecting the shaft of a golf club, said protector comprising: a golf club housing tube having an upper end and a lower end and an inner wall and an outer wall; and   a collar fitted at said upper end of said tube;   said collar fitted at said upper end of said tube;   said collar including a protective material fitted to said inner wall of said upper end; and   said collar further including a protective material fitted to said outer wall of said upper end;   a sleeve portion interconnected with said collar;   said sleeve portion comprising a protective material.   
     
     
       22. The golf club shaft protector according to claim 21 wherein said sleeve portion is fitted to said inner wall of said tube. 
     
     
       23. The golf club shaft protector according to claim 21 wherein said collar and said sleeve portion are removably fittable to said tube portion. 
     
     
       24. A golf club shaft protector for protecting the shaft of a golf club, said protector comprising: a golf club housing tube having an upper end and a lower end;   a collar positioned at said upper end of said tube;   said collar having an inner wall;   said collar including a protective material adhered at least to said inner wall; and   a sleeve portion interconnected with said collar.   
     
     
       25. The golf club shaft protector of claim 24 wherein said collar and said sleeve portion are removably attachable to said housing tube.